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A lawyer for a family whose 13-year-old was declared brain dead following a tonsillectomy to cure her sleep apnea filed an "urgent" request seeking to block the hospital from further action Tuesday, the same day employees planned to take the girl off life support. Jean Elle reports. (Published Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013)

Updated at 4:33 PM EDT on Wednesday, Dec 18, 2013

The family of an 8th grader declared "brain dead" following a tonsillectomy is organizing a worldwide prayer vigil for the teen on Wednesday, one day after two tests showed no signs of life.

"We are going to pray this girl back to perfect heath," said Omari Sealey, the uncle of 13-year-old Jahi McMath of Oakland, who had her tonsils out on Dec. 9 and was declared brain dead three days later.

Jahi's family has been holding court outside Children's Hospital for the last several days, taking to the media to make their battle public to keep Jahi on life support. Her heart is still beating, though two EEG tests on Tuesday showed no signs of life, according to her family. They say she seemed fine after her initial surgery, but ended up coughing up blood about 30 minutes later and suffered a cardiac arrest. She has not been conscious since.

Hospital Temporarily Grants Request to Keep Oakland Girl on Life Support

A lawyer for a family whose 13-year-old was declared brain dead following a tonsillectomy to cure her sleep apnea filed an "urgent" request seeking to block the hospital from further action Tuesday, the same day employees planned to take the girl off life support. Cheryl Hurd reports. (Published Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013)

Sealey called attorney Chris Dolan earlier this week, who sent a "cease and desist" letter to Children's Hospital, telling the top staff that they had an "irreconcilable conflict of interest" in determining whether Jahi should be taken off life support. On Tuesday, hospital officials agreed, at least temporarily, to heed the family's request. Dolan told NBC Bay Area that "there is no established time table now," but that doctors will monitor her condition and "reassess and reevaluate in several days."

The hospital says it is prevented from commenting by federal laws that restrict doctors from speaking about their patients' medical history without consent. Dr. David Durand, chief of pediatrics, stated in an email that " unfortunately, we have not been authorized by the family to share information with the public about this matter. Consequently, we are not able to correct misperceptions created about this sad situation. "

Jahi had the tonsillectomy to help her with sleep apnea, the family has said, but has never disclosed more.

''Urgent'' Request to Keep 8th Grader Alive After Tonsillectomy

A lawyer for a family whose 13-year-old was declared brain dead following a tonsillectomy to cure her sleep apnea filed an ''urgent'' request with the courts on Tuesday, the same day hospital employees planned to take the girl off life support. Christie Smith reports. (Published Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013)

Durand added in his statement that "Nonetheless, we want to assure the community that we are doing everything in our capacity to provide support to the grieving family. We have been caring for children in this community for over 100 years and have a longstanding commitment to delivering the highest quality care for all...Our hearts go out to this patient and her family."

EEG Conducted for 8th Grader Declared Brain Dead After Tonsillectomy

Relatives of Jahi McMath, a 13-year-old girl who was declared legally dead on Monday following a tonsillectomy that prompted a heart attack, are hoping that an electroencephalogram test scheduled for Tuesday at Children's Hospital will show some signs of life. Christie Smith reports (Published Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2013)

Jahi's family is hoping the prayer will help. Despite a "brain dead" diagnosis, the 8th grader's heart continues to beat. And that gives Jahi's God-fearing family something to hang onto.

"I feel her," her mother, Latasha "Naila" Winkfield said on Tuesday outside the hospital. "I can feel my daughter, trapped inside of her own body. She is warm and soft, like she is sleeping. We are fighting for you. Your mother will never stop fighting for you."

Family Continues Fight to Keep Girl Declared "Brain Dead" on Life Support

Doctors late Monday agreed to run one more series of tests to determine if there is any brain activity coming from Jahi McMath. Earlier in the day, doctors planned to take her off life-support after she was declared brain dead on Dec. 12. George Kiriyama reports. (Published Monday, Dec. 16, 2013)

"Everybody is praying right now for a miracle," added her stepfather, Marvin Winkfield.

Sealey, who considers his niece like his own child, urged anyone who lives nearby to physically come to the church to pray. And anyone who lives far at home should simply pray for Jahi at home.

Family Wants to Keep Girl Declared "Brain Dead" on Life Support

The family of an Oakland 13-year-old girl is demanding answers about how a routine procedure to help fix her sleep apnea turned tragic when the 8th grader was declared brain dead three days after having her tonsils removed. Cheryl Hurd reports. (Published Monday, Dec. 16, 2013)

"We're not on doctor's time," Sealey said. "We're on God's time "

NBC Bay Area's Cheryl Hurd and Jean Elle contributed to this report.

Oakland 8th Grader "Brain Dead" After Tonsillectomy

Doctors have informed the family of 13-year-old girl that she legally dead just days after underdoing what was expected to be a basic tonsillectomy. Cheryl Hurd reports. (Published Monday, Dec. 16, 2013)